Champion Petanque player visits Zanesfield (Audio & video included)

10/3/2013 10:31:29 PM

By Nate Dunham

A nine-time French National Champion Petanque player visited Hall-Fawcett Park in Zanesfield Thursday.

Marco Foyot visited the local Petanque court to teach local French students from Bellefontaine and West Liberty-Salem the techniques of shooting and pointing. He also wanted to teach them to love the sport as much as Americans love baseball.

(Pictured left: Foyot with Bellefontaine French students)

Foyot learned how to play Petanque from his father, a Petanque club president from the Parisian Region, around the age of eleven.

Petanque (pay-TONK) is a hugely popular game in France and other European countries. Metal boules are thrown from inside a small circle in a wood-lined court, with those placing their throws closest to the ‘pig’ or ‘jack’ scoring points. The game basics can be learned in a matter of minutes, but skill at the sport may take years to acquire.

(Pictured right: Foyot teaching throwing)

The students were excited to meet Marco because they started learning how to play Petanque around a year ago and were eager to learn from a world champion.

Bellefontaine French Teacher Shannon Hodge thought the visit was a fabulous event for the students and the community.

Hodge discusses the event.

Foyot stopped in Zanesfield as part of his twelve-stop United States Tour. The tour is designed to help Americans learn how to play Petanque.

Zanesfield Petanque Club President Bo Johns stated that Foyot’s visit is huge for Zanesfield because of the opportunity to learn from someone of Foyot’s caliber.

(Pictured left: Foyot demonstrating a technique)

Johns speaks about the visit.

Foyot felt that it was very important to teach the students about the sport.